ittin' too long-headed
fer me; dat he is."[51]

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FOOTNOTES:

[49] A species of hickory-nut. The tree sheds its bark every year,
hence the name, which is applied to both tree and fruit.

[50] The king-bird.

[51] See _Uncle Remus: His Songs and his Sayings_, p. 79.
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XLIII

THE CUNNING SNAKE

Daddy Jack, thus appealed to, turned half round in his seat, winked his
bright little eyes very rapidly, and said, with great animation:

"Hoo! me bin yeddy one sing-tale; me yeddy um so long tam 'go. One tam
dere bin one ole Affiky ooman, 'e call 'im name Coomba. 'E go walky troo
da woots, 'e walky troo da fiel. Bumbye 'e is bin come 'pon one
snake-nes' fill wit' aig. Snake big snake, aig big aig. Affiky oomans is
bin want-a dem aig so bahd; 'e 'fraid fer tek um. 'E gone home; 'e is
see dem aig in 'e dream, 'e want um so bahd. Wun da nex' day mornin'
come, da Affiky oomans say 'e bleeze fer hab dem aig. 'E go 'way, 'e
bin-a see da snake-nes', 'e is git-a da aig; 'e fetch um at 'e own
house; 'e cook um fer 'e brekwuss.

"Bumbye da snake bin-a come by 'e nes'. Aig done gone. 'E pit 'e nose
'pon da groun', 'e is track da Affiky oomans by 'e own house. Snake
come by da Affiky oomans house; 'e ahx 'bout 'e aig. Affiky oomans say
'e no hab bin see no aig. Snake see da skin wut bin 'pon 'e aig; 'e ahx
wut is dis. Affiky oomans no say nuttin' 't all. Snake 'e say:

"'Wey fer you come brek up me nes' un tekky me aig?'

"Affiky oomans 'e no say nuttin' 't all. 'E toss 'e head, 'e mek lak 'e
no yeddy da snake v'ice, 'e go 'bout 'e wuk. Snake, 'e say:

"'Ooman! you is bin yed me v'ice wun me cry out. You bin tekky me aig;
you is bin 'stroy me chillun. Tek keer you' own; tek keer you' own.'

"Snake gone 'way; 'e slick out 'e tongue, 'e slide 'way. Bumbye de
Affiky oomans, 'e hab one putty lil pickaninny; 'e lub um ha'd all over.
'E is mine wut da snake say; 'e tote da pickaninny 'roun' 'pon 'e bahck.
'E call um Noncy, 'e tote um fur, 'e lub um ha'd.

"Snake, 'e bin-a stay in da bush-side; 'e watch all day, 'e wait all
night; 'e git honkry fer da pickaninny, 'e want um so bahd. 'E bin slick
out 'e tongue, 'e bin slide troo da grass, 'e bin hanker fer da
pickaninny.

"Bumbye da Affiky oomans tote-a da Noncy til 'e git tire; 'e puff, 'e
blow, 'e wuk 'e gill sem l